A driving assessor and city councillor has been convicted of indecently assaulting three women while they were in a car with him taking driving tests.
Tamak Vijay, who is also a sitting City of Belmont councillor, touched the women while working for the transport department in February.
In court on Monday, Magistrate Andrew Matthews found him guilty and fined him $6,000, describing the incidents as a “clear breach of trust”.
In the first assault Vijay, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the car, put his right hand on the left leg of a victim as they undertook the tests in West Perth.
Vijay had squeezed her upper left thigh for up to six seconds.
Driving assessor Tamak Vijay leaves court after being found guilty of indecently assaulting young women he was testing. (ABC News: David Weber)
“For me it was not okay,” the victim told the court.
Assessor described as ‘touchy’
The second victim described Vijay as “touchy”, and the magistrate said she was “steadfast” that he’d touched her at least three times without consent.
The magistrate said a third victim had only lived in Perth for six months when they too were touched by Vijay.
All three of the victims were born overseas.
Vijay had denied any physical contact with his students, pleading not guilty to three counts of indecent assault, and did not give evidence during his trial.
In delivering his verdict on Monday, Magistrate Matthews said the only “memorable feature” of the driving tests for all three victims, aside from passing, was that Vijay touched them inappropriately.
He said for Vijay to be seated next to a female he hadn’t met before, and to touch them on the leg, was indecent.
Tamak Vijay, Belmont councillor and driving instructor outside court. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
Vijay no longer works for the Department of Transport and has been elected to council for a term expiring in 2027.
The 39-year-old’s lawyer said he was “not likely to work again as a driving assessor” and described the trial “very traumatic” for him.
Magistrate Matthews refused an application for a spent conviction, advising Vijay to “put this offending behind you” and to move on with his life as best as he could.
He said the community wouldn’t tolerate such behaviour.
“You’ll have to carry these convictions with you,” he said.
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